Officials probe fire in Spindle City

COHOES, N.Y. — Fire crews from various agencies battled a blaze on Pike Creek Drive in the Spindle City late Monday night.

Cohoes Mayor Shawn Morse, who also serves as the city's public safety commissioner, said the fire started after 10:30 p.m. Monday at 2 Pike Creek Drive.

Morse, who was at the scene, said an elderly man was taken to the hospital for what he believes was precautionary reasons.

"It was a single-family house," said Morse. "Sadly, it looks like it's pretty much a total loss."

Morse said the family who owned the house was the Berdar family.

"[Joe Berdar] is one of the most prominent and well respected and most decent human beings that you could ever have the ability to meet," said Morse. "The Berdar's have owned a [auto and towing] garage here in the city for as long as I've been alive, so it was really sad for everybody to see that happen to such an incredible man and his family."

Morse said the fire is still under investigation.

Morse said he intends to call the family on Tuesday.

"The city is a small community and we always try to rally around each other and whatever we can do to help, we'll do," said Morse.